HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-21-17 City Commission Packet Materials - C6. MOA with MSU for Drought Communications Research Project
Commission Memorandum
Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
From: Jessica Ahlstrom, Water Conservation Technician Craig Woolard, Director of Public Works
Subject: MSU Drought Communications Research Project Meeting Date: August 21, 2017 Agenda Item Type: Consent Item
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Montana State University to implement a drought communications research project.
Background: The Drought Management Plan (DMP) sets forth a plan to monitor and prepare for drought events and establishes a framework by which to protect the health and safety of the community and efficiently and cost-effectively reduce economic impacts from drought.
The DMP includes a communications campaign which aims to promote the value of water, the
need to conserve and ways in which to achieve water savings, while providing water customers with an understanding of drought, its impacts, and Bozeman’s vulnerability to a drought event. The scope and frequency of the communications campaign changes in accordance with drought stage and restrictions, however even during non-drought years, the communications campaign
provides general information on drought and drought preparedness.
Effectively communicating with customers about drought is a challenge that many municipalities in the West face. Water customers consist of a diverse target audience with a variety of social, cultural and educational backgrounds. Customers have varying perceptions of drought and its
impacts. In order to effectively communicate with customers about drought, water conservation
and water use, it is important to gain a better understanding of customer perceptions and preferred methods of communication. The drought communications research project aims to increase this understanding which will provide the Water Conservation Division with useful information to inform best methods for effective outreach to City water customers and
implementation of the Drought Management Plan communications campaign.
Alternatives: As suggested by the Commission.
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Fiscal Effects: There will be no cost to the Water Conservation Program throughout this
project. Attachments: Memorandum of Agreement.
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